Gizmos and gadgets for your dream smart home

Australians are taking notice of TV shows such as The Block and are making smart technology a part of their homes, old and new.

This year, about a quarter of Australian households spent almost $2 billion on smart home devices, and the numbers are on the rise. By 2023, there’ll be smart devices in 42% of our homes, making our lives that little bit easier.

Here’s a few Smart Home tips that show the future is here, and it’s surprisingly simple.

Start small or go big

Whether you’re building a new home or upgrading your gadgets or appliances in your existing one, the place to start is with smart speakers and smart hubs. Google, Apple and Amazon (Alexa) virtual assistants can double as speakers and as a control point for other smart devices. You can use them to search the internet, find out what the weather’s doing, check your diary or make a call, or you can control your whole home. And you can do it all with just your voice. If you start with a virtual assistant, it’s easy to build up as your needs change.

(Google)

Take entertainment to the next level

One of the big take-ups of smart technology is in entertainment. Whether it’s smart TVs or speakers that adjust music to suit the size of the room, people love being in control. Smart TVs connect to the internet through Wi-Fi, giving you the freedom to change channels, adjust the volume or even switch from regular TV to Netflix, using only your voice.

You’ll love smart appliances

Imagine a fridge you can see into without opening the door, or one that has a shopping list on the front that links directly to your favourite supermarket.

Maybe you’re after a dishwasher or washing machine that allows you to download your favourite wash cycle, or gives you the freedom of controlling it from your phone.

Kitchen and laundry technology is always moving fast, and connected appliances are at the forefront. JB Hi-Fi’s smart fridges, dishwashers, dryers and washing machines all look great, are full of the latest tech, and linking them up to your Connected Home makes those household chores that little bit easier.

(Getty Images/Maskot)

The power to do it all

Smart electricity is a Connected Home feature that impresses everyone. New-home builders love the flexibility of installing smart power and smart lighting from the start. It gives them extra flexibility and can save on electricity bills. And if you have an existing home, it’s simple to set it all up.

Smart lighting means your bulbs can be connected to your virtual assistant, allowing you to turn them on with your voice, or program them for certain times of the day, such as bed time or morning. You can even buy special party lights that’ll sync to your music, or set your lights up so they go on and off as you enter or leave a room.

There’s so much more

There a range of other things you’d never expect would be part of a smart home. Temperature monitors, vacuum cleaners, video doorbells and easy-to-install security cameras keep your home healthy, clean and safe. And then there’s the really fun stuff, like pet tech. Watch your cat or dog around the clock with our special cameras, and even speak to them and feed them when you’re not home. There’s also a range of toys that allow you to play with your pet no matter where you are in the world.